Radioactive Decay Earth Science

The graph below represents the decay of a radioactive isotope into a stable disintegration product. Which remains could be dated using this radioactive isotope?

• seeds from the earliest grasses

• mastodon bone

• feathers from the earliest birds

• Naples tree trunk

The graph titled "Decay of a Radioactive Isotope" shows the rate of decay of a radioactive isotope through two half-lives. Each box in the diagram represents the ratio of atoms of the radioactive isotope to atoms of the disintegration product at different half-lives. The box at two half-lives has been left blank. Which box best represents the ratio of these atoms at two half-lives?

• Box A

• Box B

• Box C

• Box D

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which graph below represents the potassium-40 and the amount of argon-40 and calcium-40 over four half-lives?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

One reason why carbon-14 was used to determine the age of the woolly rhinoceros tooth was because carbon-14:

• never completely decays

• has a very long half-life

• can be found in most organic remains

• is easily identified in Carboniferous bedrock

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

A sample of holmium-166, located deep underground, is subjected to high temperature and pressure. The half-life of this sample of holmium-166 will be:

• A) 13.40 hours

• B) 24.30 hours

• C) 26.80 hours

• D) 28.70 hours

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which radioactive isotope has a half-life closest to the half-life of the radioactive isotope rubidium-87?

• iodine-131

• gold-198

• beryllium-10

• lutetium-176

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

After 2.5 days, how much of a 100-gram sample of gold-198 will remain?

• 6.25 g

• 12.5 g

• 25 g

• 50 g

Which radioactive isotope takes the greatest amount of time to disintegrate?

• potassium-40

• uranium-235

• uranium-238

• rubidium-87

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Scientists can determine the absolute age of rocks using

• the law of superposition

• radioactive dating

• fault lines

• index fossils

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which of the following isotopes is most commonly used in radiometric dating of ancient rocks?

• Carbon-14

• Uranium-238

• Potassium-40

• Thorium-232

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8